CENTENARY OF METHODISM

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22335, 24 February 1938, Page 8

CENTENARY OF METHODISM

EARLY MISSION ACTIVITY NEAR DUNEDIN PLAN TO BUILD NEW CHURCH FOR MAORIS (mil ASSOCIATION IIUGIiK.) WELLINGTON, February 23. A proposal to commemorate the centenary of Methodism in the South Island, which is also the centenary of Christianity in the South Island, was described to the Methodist Conference to-day. Representatives. from Dunedin said that the first mission in the South Island was a Methodist one at Otakou, near Dunedin. There was still a community of about 100 Maoris there, as well as 200 pakehas, and thousands visited Otakou f° r week-ends and on holidays. The old .church was still standing an the Methodist Church was still the only one active in the district. The building was beyond repair, and it was proposed to erect a new church on the site. The Maoris had given an, acre of ground on which the church stood and asked tha new onfe be decorated inside in tne Maori style, and that a sanctuary museum,” where they could place their tribal relics and photographs of early chiefs,'be included. It was hoped also to erect a cairn at least, at Karitane, which was tn site of early mission ac^Y^ e t’ arl< is which had passed out of the hands of the church. { It was stated that the Maoris; ot the district were poor and unam assist more in the erection of proposed church. Certain gifts hj been received from Europeans. Several speakers were enthusws tically in favour of the project and, the conference supporting the pr posal, it was decided that a re tirS collection be taken up in Methodic churches throughout New Zealand in July to obtain funds. • Several representatives com mended the idea of using Maori m terior decorations.